Season 1
25 episodes · 1981
1Herbert Schiller Reads The New York Times: The Steering Mechanism of the Ruling Class
Media scholar Herbert Schiller analyzes The New York Times, examining how its structure and content shape political and cultural narratives.
2Natalie Didn’t Drown: Joan Braderman Reads The National Enquirer
Joan Braderman critiques tabloid journalism through The National Enquirer, focusing on sensationalism and narrative construction
3Stuart Ewen Reads The New York Post: Fantasy, Morality and Authority
Stuart Ewen examines The New York Post, analyzing its presentation of morality, authority, and popular culture.
4Bill Tabb Reads U.S. News & World Report: Disrobing the Economy
Economist Bill Tabb critiques economic reporting in U.S. News & World Report, focusing on how financial narratives are framed.
5Tuli Kupferberg Reads Rolling Stone: Always Smile When You Give ’em the Shaft
Poet Tuli Kupferberg analyzes Rolling Stone, examining its political positioning and cultural messaging.
6Martha Rosler Reads Vogue: Wishing, Dreaming, Winning, Spending
Artist Martha Rosler critiques Vogue, focusing on consumer culture, gender roles, and advertising imagery.
7Archie Singham Reads Foreign Policy: A Look at the Old Boy’s Network
Archie Singham examines Foreign Policy magazine, analyzing its perspectives on global power and elite networks.
8Joel Kovel Reads Life Magazine: It’s a New Life, Painting a Corpse
Joel Kovel critiques Life magazine, exploring how it constructs narratives of American life and social reality.
9Stanley Aronowitz Reads The New York Times: A Timely Look at Labor
Stanley Aronowitz analyzes labor coverage in The New York Times, focusing on representation of workers and unions.
10Elayne Rapping Swoons to Romance Novels
Elayne Rapping examines romance novels, exploring their themes, audience, and cultural significance.
11Richie Perez Watches Fort Apache: The Bronx
Richie Perez critiques the film Fort Apache, The Bronx, focusing on its portrayal of urban communities and policing.
12Patty Zimmerman Reads Variety: Hooray for Hollywood
Patty Zimmerman analyzes Variety, examining the film industry’s trade press and its framing of Hollywood.
13Pearl Bowser Looks at Early Black Cinema: The Legacy of Oscar Micheaux
Pearl Bowser explores early Black cinema through the work of Oscar Micheaux, examining its historical significance.
14Renee Tajima Reads Asian Images in American Film: Charlie Chan Go Home!
Renee Tajima critiques representations of Asian Americans in film, focusing on stereotypes such as Charlie Chan.
15Marc Crispin Miller Reads Cigarette Ads: Lots More Ifs, Ands & Butts
Marc Crispin Miller analyzes cigarette advertising, examining persuasive techniques and cultural messaging.
16Jean Franco Reads Mexican Novelas: Adiós Machismo! Hola Maquilladora
Jean Franco examines Mexican popular literature, analyzing gender roles and cultural narratives.
17Flo Kennedy Reads U.S. Press on South Africa: The Hair in the Milk
Flo Kennedy critiques U.S. media coverage of apartheid South Africa, focusing on omissions and framing.
18Noam Chomsky Reads The New York Times: Seeking Peace in the Middle East
Noam Chomsky analyzes The New York Times’ coverage of the Middle East, examining language and political framing.
19Thulani Davis Asks, Why Howard Beach?: Racial Violence and the Media
Thulani Davis examines media coverage of racial violence, focusing on the Howard Beach incident.
20Donna Haraway Reads The National Geographic on Primates
Donna Haraway critiques National Geographic’s portrayal of primates, exploring scientific narratives and ideology.
21Born to Be Sold: Martha Rosler Reads the Strange Case of Baby S/M
Martha Rosler examines media coverage of a high-profile custody case, analyzing themes of commodification and morality.
22Fred Landis Reads The Washington Times: The Dark Side of the Moonie
Fred Landis analyzes The Washington Times, focusing on its ownership and ideological influence.
23Protest + Education Can Equal Change (featuring Kathy High)
This program documents activist strategies combining protest and education to promote social change.
24The Last Graduation: The Rise and Fall of College Programs in Prison
The film examines the development and dismantling of higher education programs within U.S. prisons.
25Class Dismissed (featuring Howard Zinn and James Loewen)
Historians Howard Zinn and James Loewen critique the teaching of American history, focusing on omissions and narrative bias.